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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 27, 2005)
| Global update | IN BRIEF Senate vote chokes off force-feeding practice SALEM — A bill that would ban Oregon restaurants from serving a liver delicacy made by force-feed ing ducks was passed by the Senate on Hiesday. However, restaurant owners would be found in violation only if they knew that the delicacy — called foie gras — is made by force-feeding wa terfowl to fatten their livers. Supporters of the bill said force feeding birds is cruel and should n’t be supported in Oregon. Oppo nents said that it’s ridiculous to make a delicacy illegal and that there’s no evidence the force-feed ing technique is harmful. The bill, which would ban the force-feeding of birds in Oregon, passed 18-8 and will now move to the House. There are three farms in the nation that force-feed to produce foie gras. None is in Oregon. The legislation would also make it illegal if someone “sells, offers for sale or delivers one or more food products that the person knows to have been produced in whole or in part by force feeding a bird.” Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, said the bill sets up a potential liability for meat distributors and restaurants. But Sen. Joanne Verger, D-Coos Bay, the bill’s sponsor, made an ap peal for waterfowl. “It is inhumane treatment in order to add a little pleasure to your plate,” she said. “I ask you to be kinder, gen tler and more considerate to our feathered friends.” — The Associated Press Need Cash? Donate plasma. Earn Extra Money up to $180/ month New donors bring this ad in for an extra $5 0/8120 IBR Plasma Center Formerly Aventis I Block east of 8th and Garfield 1901 West 8th Ave., Eugene 683-9430 Syria's 29-year military presence in Lebanon ends BY SAM F. GHATIAS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MASNAA, Lebanon — Syria’s last soldier in Lebanon walked across the border Tliesday, welcomed home with cheers and flowers after a modest farewell from the Lebanese, a quiet end to a once indomitable 29-year mil itary presence that was the key to Damascus’ control of its neighbor. With the Syrians gone, Lebanese now look ahead to an election that should prove freer of Syrian influence but still runs the risk of sinking into vi olence. Lebanon’s anti-Syrian opposi tion is hoping to defeat Damascus’ po litical allies at the ballot box. The withdrawal would have been unthinkable only a few months ago. But amid a series of strategic blunders by Syrian President Bashar Assad, Damascus came under relentless inter national pressure that intensified after the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The Unit ed States in particular is keeping up de mands for an end to Syria’s influence. After weeks of Syrians’ vacating their posts, Lebanon’s pro-Syrian lead ership was eager to give a dignified fin ish to the pullout. Top military brass from both sides exchanged medals at an hour-long ceremony at an air base near their shared border, and they emphasized the nations’ close ties will continue. A Syrian commander told Lebanese troops at the ceremony: “Brothers in arms, ’til we meet again.” The Lebanese replied, “’Til we meet again,” using the Arabic phrase “ila liqaa,” a breezier goodbye than the more formal “farewell.” “Brothers in arms, thank you for your sacrifices,” a Lebanese com mander then told the Syrians. Lebanese army commander Michel Suleiman pledged continued coopera tion and credited the Syrian army with ending the 1975-1990 civil war and re building Lebanese forces. “Together we shall always remain brothers in arms in the face of the Is raeli enemy,” Suleiman said. The two dozen or so Lebanese who stood at the border were less charita ble as they watched the last 250 Syri ans leave — remnants of a one-time mighty force of 40,000 that ran the country virtually unchallenged since arriving as peacekeepers in 1976. “I feel like someone who was suffo cated and jailed and has finally emerged from jail,” said Shaaban al Ajami, mayor of the Lebanese border village of Majdal Anjar. Syria ends military presence in Lebanon Syria ended its 29-year military presence in Lebanon on Tuesday with the withdrawal of its remaining troops. Syria entered Lebanon in 1976 as peacekeepers in the country's civil war and remained after the war ended in 1990. Major events in Lebanese-Syria relations Mediterranean Sea • Tripoli Batroun * Jouniehi Beirut0 • Sidon • Tyre ISRAEL LEBANON £ SYRIA O Damascus ' 25 mi 0 25 km 1975: Civil war broke out in Lebanon 1976: Syria sent troops to help keep peace: Arab League gave Syria a peace keeping mandate 1978: Israel invaded Lebanon in pursuit of Palestinian guerrillas 1982: Israel invaded Lebanon again, drove Syrian army from sev eral areas: President elect Bashir Gemayel assassinated. 1983: U.S. warplanes hit Syrian positions in Lebanon in retaliation for Syrian-backed at tacks on the U.S. peacekeeping force 1987: Syria sent troops into west Beirut to enforce cease-fire SOURCE esri 1988: Outgoing Pres ident Amin Gemaye! appointed Lebanese army commander Gen. Michel Aoun as interim prime minister. 1989: Aoun waged “war of liberation” against Syrian forces. Pro-Syrian legislator Elias Hrawi elected president. 1990: Syrian forces defeated army under Aoun 1991: Hrawi signed Treaty of Brother hood, Cooperation and Coordination with Syrian President Hafez Assad. 1996: Israeli helicop ters attacked Syrian forces near Beirut in offensive against Hezbollah. 1998: Pro-Syrian Lebanese army com mander, Gen. Emile Lahoud, elected pres ident. 2000: Syria began first of five redeploy ments 2004: U.N. Security Council demanded Syria withdraw all troops Feb. 14, 2005: Former Lebanese prime minister killed by bomb in Beirut; Lebanese opposition blamed Syria; thou sands demonstrate against Syria March 5: Syria an nounced a two-stage pullback of its 14,000 troops April 26: Last Syrian soldiers left Lebanon AP Firefighters Wanted! $$ Earn money during summer break $$ DON’T PLAY WITH FIRE! Phone: (541)688-1900 29772 Clear Lake Rd. WORK FOR THE BEST...SKOOKUM ...THE SAFEST. MOST PROFESSIONAL, PRIVATE WILDLAND FIRE FIGHTING COMPANY IN THE WEST.. 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